Imagine a grand hall in London, filled with five influential center-left leaders, each a proven election winner. In typical times, this gathering would signal immense strength for liberal politics. However, these prime ministers – Canada’s Mark Carney, Australia’s Anthony Albanese, and Britain’s Keir Starmer among them – are convening this Friday amidst an unprecedented vulnerability for their progressive ideals.
With unpredictable electorates, sluggish economies, and contentious immigration debates dominating headlines, center-left governments find themselves increasingly exposed to the rising tide of right-wing populism. Across the Atlantic, the Democratic Party in the U.S. is struggling to find its footing, still searching for an effective strategy to challenge former President Trump.
A photo shows Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain, visibly prepared with binders and books, leaving 10 Downing Street. He is poised to deliver an impassioned speech, advocating for progressive politics to a global assembly of center-left figures.
At the Global Progress Action Summit, Mr. Starmer passionately defended progressive politics, even as his Labour Party faces a significant threat from Nigel Farage’s anti-immigrant Reform U.K., which currently enjoys a near double-digit lead in the polls.
Acknowledging growing public concern over immigration, Starmer sought to strike a balance by proposing a mandatory digital ID system, a measure his supporters believe could deter undocumented workers.
Accompanying the report is a visual collage featuring key figures expected at the summit: Pete Buttigieg, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and Jacinda Ardern.
Starmer declared, “This is the defining political choice of our times.” He characterized the populist right as offering “a politics of predatory grievance, preying on the problems of working people and using the infrastructure of division.” In contrast, he urged for an embrace of “the politics of patriotic renewal. Rooted in communities, building a better country.”
Harry Quilter-Pinner, executive director of the Institute for Public Policy Research—a British think tank co-organizing the event—noted that the summit convenes at a time when “citizens across the world are increasingly rejecting mainstream politics.”
Having recently hosted Donald Trump, Starmer will now engage with prominent U.S. Democratic figures, including Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and former Biden administration Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, offering a platform for Trump’s political adversaries.
This gathering could also serve as a crucial opportunity for attending Democrats to strategize for a post-Trump political landscape, including developing a progressive stance on tariffs previously levied by the former president.
Fred Hochberg, who previously headed the Export-Import Bank under President Obama, emphasized the need for progressives to “focus on meeting voters where they are, which is the cost of living and inflation.”
Another image shows Nigel Farage, leader of the anti-immigrant Reform U.K. party, whose growing popularity poses a significant threat to Starmer’s Labour.
Just 14 months after his impressive rise to power, Starmer faces considerable political challenges. Despite some international achievements, a series of errors and recent resignations have cast a shadow over his leadership, especially as Labour prepares for its annual conference this Sunday.
Meanwhile, Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Manchester and a potential rival, recently presented a more left-leaning vision for Labour in a series of interviews. While a direct leadership challenge from Burnham isn’t imminent (he would first need a parliamentary seat), his statements have highlighted Starmer’s precarious position.
Adding to the internal strife, Labour members are set to elect a new deputy leader after Angela Rayner’s resignation over a tax controversy. This election has effectively become a referendum on Starmer’s leadership, with opponents considering voting against his favored candidate.
Some political analysts suggest that Labour was ill-prepared for governance after their election win, perhaps complacent due to the preceding Conservative chaos that saw five prime ministers in just seven years.
According to John McTernan, a political strategist and former advisor to Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair, the party erred by assuming competent governance alone would satisfy the public. He argues that voters now consider stable government a baseline expectation.
Voters, still grappling with persistent inflation and minimal improvements in healthcare, express frustration over the sluggish pace of change. Critics also point to Starmer’s technocratic approach and uninspiring communication as factors leaving many uncertain about the government’s path.
A final image captures Prime Minister Keir Starmer alongside President Trump at the conclusion of their recent joint news conference, a reminder of the complex international political landscape.
Claire Ainsley, who previously served as Starmer’s policy director, highlighted the immense economic challenges inherited by the government, including a sluggish economy, underfunded public services, and significant debt. She asserts that Starmer’s primary task is to define a clearer political direction.
Furthermore, Neera Tanden, CEO of the Center for American Progress Action Fund and a former Biden administration official, believes center-left parties must more effectively illustrate the real-world consequences of populist policies.
Tanden observed that “the divisive rhetoric, the nationalist rhetoric, can be very appealing” in the U.S. However, she warned that “The Trump administration’s policies are harming working class people disproportionately — it’s their health care that’s being lost, their utility prices that are going up. I think it’s a warning sign to the world.”